This is page numbers 131 - 159 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 1st Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was work.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Do you have a question, Mr. Krutko?

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Premier, exactly are we looking at federal funding to help us implement our needs by way of infrastructure needs to push the road to the Arctic and also have an Arctic institute in the Beaufort Sea?

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we have highlighted on a number of occasions, core infrastructure for the further development of the Northwest Territories, for our people, for transportation is one of the key pieces we see as we proceed forward. So we will need to continue to work in that area. We are, of course, when it comes to highways, know that it is the federal government’s responsibility, but that shouldn’t stop us from continuing to put the argument forward and look for some solutions as we proceed forward on a number of initiatives. So, yes, we are going to work with the federal government and try to see if there are areas that we can use as we proceed forward in trying to help secure the issue of Arctic sovereignty for the federal government. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regards to the military side, the Beaufort has played a role in regard to the DEW Line sites, the Inuvik army presence that they had during the 1970s and into the 1980s. I would like to ask the Premier, have we looked at the possibility of a military presence in the Arctic and where they are going to be located? I know there have been a lot of announcements in the Eastern Arctic but very little on the western side. So I would like to ask the Premier, has he also had discussions on military presence in the Arctic and where they are going to be located?

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have not had discussions on the area of a military presence in the Northwest Territories and where they would be located. We know there is an increased presence. For example, the Forward Operation Location in Inuvik has been busier this last fall and winter than it has in the last number of years. So they have stepped up some of their work and their presence in the Arctic

already. We haven’t had any direct discussions about a further enhancement of that area. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation if he is able to commit to me today on giving the Hamlet of Paulatuk the capability of issuing driver’s licences and general identification?

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Minister of Transportation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this issue has come up in my discussions with the Member from Nunakput. Certainly, our department is making arrangements to see how best we can serve the community of Paulatuk in terms of this specific issue on the issuing of driver’s licences.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary, Mr. Jacobson.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that would be easy. It is just entering into a contract with the Hamlet of Paulatuk to provide that service. The people of Paulatuk are taxpayers to the territorial government. It costs $1,100 to go and just to get your driver’s licence renewed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. I am not sure I heard a question there. Mr. Yakeleya.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Minister of Transportation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member from Nunakput is also…I come from a region that faces challenges like this. I will be happy to look at that specific issue and work with the Member in terms of how we can serve the people of Paulatuk on this issue.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I have a question for the Minister of Finance. There have been a lot of discussions on this side of the floor of the much needed infrastructure like highways and various public infrastructures in the community. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance if he can provide this Assembly with a fiscal framework for the GNWT prior to the strategic planning session next week.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 89-16(1): GNWT Fiscal Framework
Item 7: Oral Questions

November 29th, 2007

Inuvik Boot Lake

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Minister of Finance

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we could work at putting that together. That shouldn’t be a problem. One of the things I think we need to look at as an Assembly before we look at a number of situations, I hope that we would set our priorities first and then look at the fiscal environment that we would have to operate in and take those steps. If we go down a path that becomes strictly about numbers, we may not look at opportunities for restructuring or refocusing of how we operate as a government. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe that both the priorities and the fiscal framework should be looked at together. Having said that, can the Minister ensure that, should he be providing the fiscal framework prior to his strategic planning session next week, all leverage dollars be also included in the fiscal framework? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we would be prepared to put our information out there. Our fiscal position, the infrastructure piece of it would be part of that as well as all instruments that we have within our authority. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Beaulieu.